Not for profit

Students provide service to others

November 5, 2012

While learning about management, one class at Lycoming College is hoping to make a difference in the community, as well.

As part of Dr. Neil Boyd's Management and Organizational Behavior class, students are given the task of organizing and executing a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization.

The class split into different groups. Each group then made a list of nonprofit organizations that it would like to work with.

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JOSEPH STENDER/Sun-GazetteVitality Management Consulting, a group in Dr. Neil Boyd’s Management and Organizational Behavior course at Lycoming College, is planning an event to help raise funds for the renovation project at the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum. The festival will take place at 12 p.m. Nov. 11 at Little League International in South Williamsport.

One group, Vitality Management Consulting, will be holding the Fall Ball Festival to help raise funds for the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum with its renovations from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. The event will be held on the concourse of the Little League International Complex in South Williamsport.

"We pretty much are organizing a fundraising event. ... The Little League Museum is going through renovations so we are donating all our funds to that project," said Robert Rinaldo, a senior in the group.

The group will specifically focus on the Dugout portion of the museum renovation. The original mascot uniform - which was created by Walt Disney - will be on display once the museum is fully renovated.

The student group's day will feature obstacle courses, food and beverages, and other baseball-related activities.

"There's going to be a lot of activities for kids," said Jude Bubeck, a sophomore. "It's going to be a fun day for the families."

The group said they chose to work with Little League because of the values it teaches children. Group members also said it was a natural fit since they were in Williamsport.

"That's the main thing people know about Williamsport," said Kabongo Bukasa, junior.

In order to get ready for the event, the group of 11 broke into subgroups to achieve specific tasks. One group was in charge of getting prizes for raffles, another to organize activities and so on.

"We each have our own teams," explained Nicole Gramlich, junior.

Rinaldo said it allows team members to see what their strengths and weaknesses are.

"I think we're all figuring out where our skills are best," he said.

Boyd said the assignment gives students a way of "learning on the fly" how a large event is planned and executed. He added that it fits nicely in with the college's mission of giving back.

"It fits with what we're all about," Boyd said.

Bukasa said he enjoyed the project, and think it will help him in the future.

"I'm hoping one day I can have a little company. It's not all about the books," he said. "This allows you to go out and try."

Bubeck added that the experience has been "stressful at times," but overall it's been a great experience and fun.